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That sets me back on my heels a bit I’ve been so concerned about how Malik is taking everything I hadn’t bothered to assess enerally knohat I feel, but is it healthy?

I take another cleansing breath so I can focus “Okay… I feel sos, actually E We both lost so in Syria, so we have a bond because of it While I’m not sure exactly of the why of it, I can tell you it’s incredibly deep Almost metaphysical Additionally, I’m attracted to hi to do with anything that happened in Syria But I feel guilty about it, because o, which makes me feel shallow and disloyal It makesnothing but a friendship with Malik, but it’s hard when I know he is at least attracted to s or doubts, sa?”

Corinne nods thoughtfully, seeht now Malik, too You’ve both experienced trau those emotions Ideally, it’s not the best tiarbled up with the other emotions”

An overwhelaze down to my lap

“I can see it bothers you,” CorinneBut I said ‘ideally’ it’s not the best tis Doesn’t mean it’s a hard-and-fast rule”

I jerk o for it? Or at least confront the possibility of a relationship with Malik?”

“I didn’t say that,” she replies carefully “It just means there are no rules But there are perils you need to be aware of You also need to have an understanding that starting a relationship with Malik, given what you two have been through, could potentially be difficult to navigate”

What she saysconcern I can hear the pleading indisloyal to Ji attraction to Malik?”

“Did Jiain if he died?” she counters

“We never talked about it,” I admit

“Well, do you think he’d want you to stay single forever—to stay true to him?” she presses

The answer comes to me immediately “No He’d want me to be happy, no matter what that happiness looked like”

“There you go,” she says, waving a hand “If Malik makes you happy—and Jimmy would have wanted that for you no ”

See it over, but I quickly realize that’s only half the formula “Still doesn’t mean Malik is okay with any of this”